A Quick Trip to the Southwest- Irish golf vacations

The Southwest of Ireland has some of the most scenic golfing courses on the globe, created and designed by some of the biggest names in golfing circles, and played on by the best professional golfers to date . If you are planning a deluxe golf trip, you couldn’t go wrong by including the golf links in County Cork and County Kerry, for the finest golfing experience you will find in Ireland. The courses we will be looking at are not only a pleasure to play, but the landscape and scenery will build memories you will never forget.

Fota Island golf resort is situated within a forested 780-acre estate. The Par 3, 71 championship golf courses named Deerpark Par 71, Belvelly Par 72 and finally Barryscourt a stunning Par 73. Fota first opened its’ gates to the golfing community back in 1886 and, has continuously upgraded and modified them to the premiere courses we have today. In 2004 major renovations took place by the new owners, the Killeen group, who invested into the facilities to take them to the European tour standard. Finally, in 2006 all was complete including the luxurious 5 star fota island Hotel and spa as well as the deluxe self-catering lodges.

In 2014, Fota Island golf resort proudly hosted the Irish open to acclaimed success, with many praising not only the course itself but also, the fantastic facilities on hand including the wonderfully relaxing Hotel spa. The fully equipped gym and spa offers a combination of traditional and holistic approaches to health and well-being. All this set in the beautiful surroundings of the forested landscape. After a relaxing body massage why not take a walk to the Amber Lounge? A unique restaurant, that prides itself on its selection of over 75 fine whiskeys.

Little Island Golf Club
Little Island Golf Club is one of those rare gems that can be found nestled in the beautifully scenic Cork Harbour. Little Island has become one of the most popular clubs to host major and amateur championships over the past few years. The little, unchanged course layout was designed by Alister Mackenzie back in 1927 and, after playing a round, you know that this is truly a masterpiece.

Hole 7. fan favourite
Hole 7 is a firm favourite among the golfing circles, it’s the first Par 3 you’ll get to play on the course. Here the south-westerly wind usually is at your back, making for some very long drives down the fairway. The large inviting green holds a deadly secret, in the form of a severe slope to the front, anything short and you see your ball roll back towards you. To add to the challenge, the green is flanked by bunkers on either side.

Ballybunion Golf Club

An absolute must on any golf vacation in Ireland is the Ballybunion Old Course Golf Club, located in the southwest of Ireland. Old Course has has been described as the greatest course ever made, by the worlds best golfers like Tiger Woods and Mark O’ Meara. From the first tee, the course feels like a great quality course but, by the time you play the 7th you truly realise that this is something special. Everyone who has played at Ballybunion will be faced with a wonderfully, challenging game and some of the most incredible scenic views in the world.

Ballybunion landscape is made of mostly natural features, large grassy sand dunes and undulating, rolling fairways. The more famous of Ballybunions two courses is Old Course. The old course has been host to many international golf championships and world class tournaments, in recent years it has become one of the countries most played links. The opening 9 offers the visitor a§ gentle easing into the course, then it becomes a lot more challenging. Features such as narrow, contoured fairways that feel claustrophobic and a tight game is a must here. After sinking the ball on the 18th, it becomes obvious why it is ranked as one of the best in the world.

Tralee Golf Club
The Tralee Golf club in Co Kerry was designed by legendary golfer Arnold Palmer. Palmer, was struck by the beauty of the coastal region and the wonderful natural features. The Area includes a great view of ancient castles, crashing waves and incredible clifftop views of islands way off in the distance.

Tralee Golf Club is also praised for its’ modern state-of -the-art club house, with so many modern facilities for every visitor. A great way to relax after a day on the links is to take a stroll to the clubs’ bar and restaurant, which has garnered a well deserved reputation for its warm, friendly atmosphere as a great place to unwind and talk to other members. If you are feeling peckish, there is a fantastic balcony to enjoy lunch while soaking up the panoramic view of the Atlantic. Also available in the clubhouse is the media lounge, equipped with large screen TV’s for checking the latest scores and free wi-fi to peruse international tournaments.

So there you have it , our quick stop in the southwest of Ireland to some of our favorite golf courses, filled with great holes and memorable scenery. These are just a few customized golf packages in Ireland and we have plenty more to offer

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All the best,

Mike Ryan

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